HD Camcorder

[alimoalem]

Hey everyone, my family wants to get a new camcorder and the budget is around $500. I've read through Kaido's very informative guide (and all 5 pages of posts ) and I was thinking the Canon HF-200 is the way to go.

Just a few questions:
1. The guide recommended the HF-200 once it comes out, but it wasn't out when the guide was written. Is it still top dog for that price range?
2. According to this review, the HF20 (basically the HF200 with internal memory) didn't get a great review, and the Sanyo VPC-HD2000 beat it pretty badly, I think. I don't know if this sounds weird, but is the review accurate?
3. What about the Sanyo VPC-HD2000 and JVC Everio GZ-HM200? These both have gotten good reviews.
4. Any other contenders I should consider?

 

[Kaido]

I'm porting the guide over to a Wiki, almost done! It will be updated for Oct/Nov 09 Yes, the HF-200 is still the budget beast to go with. FWIW, I don't ever even look at lab reviews - go on Vimeo and check out actual footage from the camera. See which one you like best. Ultimately, you're going to be happy with the one YOU choose, based on YOUR preferences, so start comparing videos! Personally, I'm a Canon fanboy on the consumer end of things, even the budget-minded HF200 is utterly amazing, so it's hard to go wrong

 

[alimoalem]

I went to Vimeo.com but I can't find where you can find videos people have recorded with their camcorders...can you help me out?

 

[Kaido]

Just use the search bar at the top for "HF200" or "VPC-HD2000" and it will find all videos shot on those cameras that are tagged with the camera name. Here's a couple quick links:

Canon HF200 sample footage:

Canon sample 1

Canon HF200


Sanyo VPC-HD2000 sample footage:

Sanyo sample 1

Sanyo sample 2

Ultimately, watch a LOT of footage, and then decide for yourself. Camcorders aren't about charts, it's about the visual aspect - it's like buying a TV online without having seen in-person at Best Buy first - it can have great reviews, but the picture can look waaaay different when YOU see it in-person. So watch a bunch of videos shot on both cameras (also check you Youtube, a lot of people upload there as well) and see which one you like better

 

[alimoalem]

Thanks Kaido. I really like the HF200 videos, particularly the 2nd one you posted. It looks great. I'm going to look at more videos like you said, but I'm really happy with what I've seen.

Just a question. I don't know if it's just me, but does the Canon focus quicker than the Sanyo? When the camera would move, the Canon didn't seem to be as shaky/blurred/whatever as the Sanyo.

 

[Kaido]

Thanks Kaido. I really like the HF200 videos, particularly the 2nd one you posted. It looks great. I'm going to look at more videos like you said, but I'm really happy with what I've seen.

Just a question. I don't know if it's just me, but does the Canon focus quicker than the Sanyo? When the camera would move, the Canon didn't seem to be as shaky/blurred/whatever as the Sanyo.

Canon has pretty decent I-AF (Instant Auto-focus), as well as good IS (image stabilization). They're not perfect on any camera, so you have to get used to each camera's particular way of handling it (for example, I turn IS off when I'm using a tripod for pans & tilts due to the way it handles the image), but Canon is generally pretty good with their optics.

 

[KLin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4GuyWUHaeA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWf4GMMGdoQ

I bought the vpc-fh1a last week and took those videos with it. It's basically the same model as the hd2000, just in the traditional camcorder form factor. Works great.